CHRISTIAN HARTSELLE | chartsel@butler.edu | Opinion Columnist
Students with work experience have a tremendous advantage over those who graduate without it.
College students who held a job during their time in school are three times more likely to find a job after graduating, according to a 2013 study from High Fliers Research.
Four out of five students work an average of 19 hours a week, according to a 2013 Citigroup survey of 1,000 students.
Students who work up to 15 hours a week have significantly higher GPA’s when compared to students who do not work, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Your grades might be exceptional, but your resume should be, too.
Working off-campus specifically is similar to working in the real world: Students can learn about the field they are studying about in college. They can learn about their character as a member of the workforce, where they are solid in their skills and where they need to improve. They can even impress potential employers.
If students find a passion and a future in their internships, they can turn them into a career choice. If they hate it, it is better to discover this during college rather than during a full-time job.
Freshman Claire Goudie is an elementary education major who works at Dawn ‘til Dusk Daycare as an assistant teacher. She helps with kids up to 5 years old.
“I love it. It has a lot of leadership qualities because you have to control a lot of kids. It helped me decide I want to be a teacher,” Goudie said.
She thinks that working off campus allows one to be in an environment other than the college setting.
Goudie also stressed that she liked the bonds with her co-workers because they all have different backgrounds: In college students can be exposed to diversity, but in the real world, students can work with a variety of different ages, as well.
“Working is important, and everyone should work,” Goudie said.
While some students might think they should focus all of their attention on education during college, in reality, the ultimate goal is to find employment in a field of their interest.
Students do not have to wait until graduation to pursue a career: Do it now!
